The Robotic AI Slot Car Racer

Robotic entertainment specialist Anki is set to turn the heads of kids (young and old) next week when it lifts the automated lid on its new battle-racing game at New York's Toy Fair.

Anki OVERDRIVE, the follow up to the hugely successful mobile-controlled Anki DRIVE racing game, sees you control your own miniature RC car via your iOS or Android smartphone, racing against mates or against cars controlled by their very own AI. Where OVERDRIVE expands on the original is in the form of adding a modular, Scalextric-style track to the mix.

While DRIVE saw racers drive around a set mat, OVERDRIVE's track pieces snap together magnetically, allowing you to change the layout of courses and buy additional kits to expand your race course. The AI of the cars is able to learn over 20 track variations, opening up options for sharing level designs with a wider community and competing in leader boards, much like racing video games.

Set to cost around £100 for a starter pack, the Anki OVERDRIVER sets are due to hit shelves later this year. Time to start thinking up a good story as to who you'll be buying this for. A nephew? Yeah, that'll do.